Police: Serial Groper May Have Struck Twice Wednesday

(WUSA) -- Fairfax County Police say they looking into the possibility that two assaults on Wednesday afternoon may be related to the serial groper case.

According to police, they happened within twenty minutes of each other. One incident occurred at 3:10 p.m. The other happened at 3:35 p.m.

In the first incident, police say a 30-year-old woman was walking south on Dinwiddie Street near Dana Avenue. She reported that someone approached from behind her, grabbed and groped her, then fled. He was described as Hispanic, around 5'6" tall, with a neatly trimmed beard. He was wearing a sweatshirt.

Police say the second incident took place a few blocks away, on Backlick Road near the intersection of Cabin John Road. There, a 25-year-old woman was walking south on Backlick Road, underneath the 495 underpass when she felt someone grope her. She yelled and the man fled.

He was described as Hispanic, around 5'6" tall. He wore a black jacket and blue jeans.

Police say they could be the 16th and 17th groping incidents believed to be committed by the same man in the Springfield area.